Threads and Spectrums: What Two Exhibitions Taught Me About Art and Joy

A behind-the-scenes look at Loops at Sunny Bank Mills, and a colour-filled visit to Liz West’s H.A.P.P.Y at the Mercer Gallery

Lately I’ve been feeling incredibly inspired after experiencing two very different exhibitions—one I had the pleasure of working on, and the other I got to enjoy as a visitor. Both gave me so much to think about creatively, in completely different ways.

Loops at Sunny Bank Mills — cycles, circles and continuums

🔗 Explore the exhibition

This exhibition was a special one for me, as I worked on it as a technician during the install. Loops was a collaboration between six textile artists—three from the Netherlands and three from Yorkshire—each bringing their own story, skill, and creativity to the gallery space. Watching the exhibition unfold over the week was a real privilege. It was fascinating to see how conversations developed between the artists and how their work came together to create a rich, textured narrative.

What really stuck with me was how deeply personal textile art can be. The choice of materials, the stitching techniques, the history behind each fabric—everything had meaning. It made me think about how textiles show up in my own work, and how the patterns, textures, and fabrics I’m drawn to all carry their own kind of story. I left feeling more connected to that tactile side of my creativity and full of new ideas for how I can incorporate it into future projects.

Liz West’s H.A.P.P.Y at the Mercer Gallery — Pure Colour Joy

🔗 View details at Mercer Gallery

Where Loops was layered, thoughtful, and collaborative, Liz West’s H.A.P.P.Y was like stepping into a rainbow. I visited the exhibition with prism glasses and kaleidoscopes in hand, and it was a completely immersive experience. The gallery was transformed into a space of light, reflections, and intense colour—playful, joyful, and surprisingly emotional.

What I loved most was how the exhibition encouraged interaction. It wasn’t just about looking at the work—it was about being in it, moving through it, and seeing it through your own unique lens. It made me reflect on how I use colour in my own practice—how certain palettes just feel right, or how the mood of a piece can shift with a bold splash of pink or a grounding mustard yellow. It made me want to experiment more, trust my instincts, and have fun with colour in a way that feels true to me.

What I Took Away

Both of these exhibitions gave me so much to think about. Loops reminded me of the emotional power of materials and the stories we tell through fabric. H.A.P.P.Y reminded me of the joy and playfulness in colour—and the importance of making space for both thoughtfulness and fun in the creative process.

They’ve reignited something in me, and I can already feel those influences starting to bubble up in my sketchbook and in the ideas I’m playing with for new products.

If you’re local to Yorkshire or find yourself nearby, I’d definitely recommend checking out what’s on at both Sunny Bank Mills and the Mercer Gallery. There’s so much amazing work happening right on our doorstep—and you never know when something will spark your next big idea.